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Bill

SB 1072

Absentee voting in person; available beginning 14 days prior to election.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tara Durant and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes in-person absentee voting 14 days before elections in Virginia, but indefinitely passed in committee by narrow 8-7 vote.

Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1072

Legislative bill overview

SB 1072 would establish in-person absentee voting beginning 14 days before Election Day in Virginia. The bill incorporates provisions from SB 856 and has been prefiled for the 2025 legislative session. As of January 21, 2025, the bill was passed indefinitely (tabled) by the Privileges and Elections Committee by a narrow 8-7 vote.

Why is this important

Early in-person voting expands voter access by allowing citizens to cast ballots before Election Day without needing to request an absentee ballot, potentially reducing Election Day congestion and accommodating working voters. The vote margin and committee indefinite passage suggest significant partisan disagreement about the timing, implementation, or scope of early voting expansion in Virginia.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs and logistics: Requires election officials to staff and secure polling locations for an additional two weeks, raising concerns about resource allocation that prompted the fiscal impact statement
  • Election security and ballot handling: Opponents may worry about extended periods of ballot availability increasing vulnerability to tampering, fraud, or procedural errors
  • Partisan divides on voting access: The narrow committee vote (8-7) reflects deeper disagreement about whether expanded access helps all voters equally or benefits certain political constituencies disproportionately

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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